take thi

already," Nero interrupt

pale. "But Alpha, the

d my last bride. I think we

ed in my hair, and wondered if this was actually happenin

usly. "Do you, Alpha Nero Blackwate

ur

nted at me. "I'm sorr

pered. "Remi O

ross, take Alpha Nero Bl

outh, but not

ghtened. "She

I should

ted, louder this tim

ess and eternal bonds and pack law. I wasn't listening. I was star

the side. Out of the way

overed it. Something green under her fingerna

now kiss

up. "Wait, we

ose enough that I

ur siblings. Those two friends who r

od wen

continued, "And you're going to

red a

and?" he

odd

gers tilting my chin.

Sweet kisses. Soft kisses. The ki

wasn'

and something that made my

I was. Forgot the crowd watching. Forgot everything except the way his th

wolf purred.

d her. We're b

es good

ste good.

. There was a sm

hew's girl?" he said, just

urned. "F

e off to a

e crowd shifted, forming

ceremonial bowl. She was dressed in whi

e announced. "The pack will remain here

a

h

I said. "Did

g

waiting

aid. "No,

ER

hrough the crowd. Her eyes w

Nero sai

this

ally th

with pure disdain. "She's not even Moonstone Pack

e dropped to dangerous. "Every single one. All dead within

. "Your father would roll ov

done picking my brides." He pul

r a long moment. The

d quietly. "This one won

urned and

o. "Your family's

ter him, still in bare feet, the we

or us, forming a

sive doors with guards

pha ch

mach d

p, but Nero kept movin

us, lining the hallway.

those dark romance novels where the heroine dies in chapt

four-poster bed, dark wal

led me

I could hear the pa

or proof

actually have to do this, right? You just go b

rned to

N

N

be submitted to

ce cracked. "What

roof of con

oom t

gin," I bl

kno

at, I don't want to know. This is ins

dline fights the curse. If I leave an heir

six didn'

es have." He took another ste

mediately. Finally.

rt where six women D

he's

finish tha

He started unbuttoni

use

e. The longer we wait, th

s-I can

d his sh

h

n

fighting bears. Broad shoulders. Defi

smugly. Death wish

aring,"

ot sta

re st

rt off in front of

hen he turned aroun

muscles moved under his skin. At th

in fights.

the laces of my d

t," he said, not turning

ives. You d

r po

l at my feet. I was standing in

s half-naked in a stranger's bedroom, about to have

uckled h

've look

idn

just his briefs now, and I could see everything. The mu

about to die, my wolf teased. And di

ractive," I muttered.

ed the sheet over himself.

es wen

since I'd met him,

I watched his body react under the sheets-w

s BEA

g

hard. And there wa

" he b

fr

e only thing in the world. Li

head, like he was try

a complete

there, kneeling in front of me on the

beautiful," he s

eaned in, and His thum

going

Lower. I stopped breathing. This

he st

ole body went rigid like he

essed,"

ha

clothes. Thr

ressed

you said

imbed out of bed, wrappi

ence. The peo

old again. Distant. "They listen

a fighting chance

. His eyes fl

fight it," he said quietl

lin

. Then he grabbed his pants, pulle

ai

slammed b

ock click fro

cked

ked, holding my dress,

s still playing. The

d left

on

s back on. My ha

not one of those stupid romance novel heroin

ents. To Jade and Zaya. To people who a

another exit. A window I could

th

to pick the lock when I spot

bo

sket

here were Pages an

isted. Their bones breaking in ways that shouldn't

n't recognize

tudying

More sketches.

top

meone had tried to throw it aw

thed i

man's face. Beautiful. D

f

art s

ough the book, sea

he corner

mont

that wedding. Three months before I'd

started

opped. The pack was leaving.

y own face in

an accident,"